THERE is seemingly no end to the production line of footballing talent produced by the Tranmere youth system.

THERE is seemingly no end to the production line of footballing talent produced by the Tranmere youth system.

On Tuesday night manager Dave Watson stunned Prenton Park by naming 18-yearold Danny Harrison in the starting line-up for the league match with Wigan.

Harrison is the third youngster to be given a full senior debut this season after Alex Hay and Ian Sharps, whilst fellow 18-year-old Sean Thornton was given his first taste of life in the Football League as a substitute last month.

The former youth team skipper was given the opportunity despite having never even been named amongst the substitutes before.

Harrison admitted: "It was out of the blue. I would have expected to get on the bench first.

"With Micky Mellon suspended, Ray (Mathias) gave me a call over the weekend to tell me to look after myself, so I had an idea I would be involved in some way. But I never expected to go straight into the starting line-up."

Harrison would love to figure again this weekend for the trip to Cardiff.

But he accepts he may have to step down in order to accommodate Mellon, available again after suspension.

"Obviously I would like to be getting a shirt again for the Cardiff match this weekend, whether it be from the start or on the bench.

"I will just have to keep plugging away on the training ground and with the reserves and see how things go."

* Eric Nixon could be set for a return to the first team squad following an injury to John Achterberg.

The Dutch keeper suffered a badly gashed leg during yesterday's reserve game against Stoke and is set to be out for a couple of weeks.

Manager Dave Watson said: "Eric was away with Kidderminster for a few games last week and he did well.

"We may have to bring him into the squad whilst John is out."

Rovers have not received any enquiries about transfer-listed Seyni N'Diaye, who scored for the reserves in yesterday's 4-1 win at the Brittania Stadium.

Iain Hume and Alex Hay gave Rovers a 2-0 advantage in the Avon Insurance League Cup first round tie before Achterberg's injury let Stoke back into it.

The visitors were grateful for a 15-minute delay when the stadium had to be evacuated due to a fire scare and returned to add goals from Hay and N'Diaye.